Big D and the Kids Table is a ska punk band formed in October 1995 in Boston, Massachusetts, when its members converged in college. Their first release was on their own Fork in Hand Records label, but have since teamed with Springman Records and SideOneDummy. The band has been noted for its strict DIY work ethic, such as engineering, producing, and releasing their own albums and videos and self-promotion of their own shows.

Band history

Early years (1995–1998)

Big D and the Kids Table was founded in 1995, when members converged at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

In late November 2011, the band announced they were cancelling the remainder of their European tour in support of for the Damned, following lead singer Dave McWane's diagnosis with thyroid cancer. After surgery and radiation, McWane was declared cancer free, and the band went back on tour in April 2012.

Stomp / Stroll and Do Your Art (2013–present)

In early February 2013, it was announced that the band's next release would be two separate records, one ska/punk album, and another reggae/stroll/dub record. Stomp and Stroll released on June 11, 2013. This album featured new guitarist Alex Stern, bassist Steve Foote, drummer Derek Davis, long-time saxophonist Ryan O'Connor, former trumpeter Dan Stoppelman, former trombonist Paul Cuttler, former vocalist and trombonist Marc Flynn, Logan La Barbera on Trombone, among others. Shortly after this release, Steve Foote was replaced by bassist Ben Basile, leaving vocalist David McWane as the only remaining original Big D member.

thumb|Big D and the Kids Table performing in The Masquerade, Atlanta - 2013.10.29

In 2014, the band performed "Good Luck" in its entirety, which featured several of the original members of the band returning to the stage for the first time in over a decade, including Marc Flynn. In 2014 and once again in 2015, Chris Bush appeared live with the band for the first time since his departure in 2005. In September 2015, it was reported that the band would be providing theme music for an American-produced animated special featuring Domo, the mascot of Japanese public broadcaster NHK, titled Domo Rock!, starring veteran actor George Takei.

The band continues to tour semi-frequently. Trombonist Logan La Barbera, formerly of The Flaming Tsunamis and Royal City Riot joined the band in 2013 after Billy Kottage played with Big D on trombone periodically throughout 2013 before joining Reel Big Fish. Saxophonist Jonathan Degen, formerly of Royal City Riot, joined Big D in 2015 as well while O'Connor was absent from tours and shows and Degen has played with the band ever since. Their live shows near Boston sometimes feature former touring and recording members such as trumpet player Dan Stoppelman, bassist Steve Foote, guitarist Sean P. Rogan, and most frequently, trombonist Paul Cuttler, among others. In 2017, drummer Derek Davis left the band to do guitar/drum tech for bands like Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and The Dropkick Murphys. Derek Davis was replaced by Alex Brander. Some of their live performances and occasionally their tours feature the "Doped Up Dollies" singers.

On October 22, 2021, SideOneDummy released the band's first new studio album of all original material in eight years, titled Do Your Art. The 20-song album was recorded in early 2021 and produced by Matt Appleton of Reel Big Fish, the Inevitables, and Goldfinger. The first single off this record, "Too Much," was released with an accompanying music video on July 16, 2021.

Members

  • David McWane – vocals, melodica, guitar (1995–present)
  • Ryan O'Connor – tenor saxophone (2005–present)
  • Alex Stern – guitar (2013–present), organ (2011–2012)
  • Ben Basile – bass (2013–present)
  • Logan La Barbera – trombone (2013–present)
  • Paul Cuttler – trombone (2000–present)
  • Alex Brander – drums (2017–present)
  • Casey Gruttadauria – keyboards (2014–present)
  • Matt Appleton- tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet (2021-present)
  • Sirae Richardson – backing vocals (2009–present)
  • Brianne McWane – backing vocals (2010–present)
  • Erin MacKenzie – backing vocals (2010–present)

Former members

  • Sean P. Rogan – guitar, keys (1995–2009)
  • Steve Foote – bass, ukulele (1995–2013)
  • Dan Stoppelman – trumpet (1995–2010)
  • Jonathan Degen – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone (2015–2024)
  • Chris Bush – tenor saxophone (1995–2005)
  • Gabe Feenberg – trombone (1995–2000)
  • Marc 'The Skipper' Flynn – vocals, trumpet, valve trombone (1995–2001)
  • Max MacVeety – drums (1995–2000, six shows in February 2009)
  • Chris Sallen – tenor saxophone (1995–2000)
  • Aaron Sinclair – guitar (1995–1998)
  • Jon Lammi – guitar (1998–2000)
  • Jason Gilbert – drums (2001–2004)
  • Jon Reilly – drums (2004–2009)
  • Brian Klemm – guitar (2009–2010)
  • Hayley Jane – backing vocals (2009–2011)
  • Nick Pantazi – guitar (2010–2013)
  • Chris Lucca – trumpet (2010–2013)
  • Billy Kottage – trombone (2013)
  • Derek Davis – drums (2009–2017)
  • David Lagueux – drums

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

  • Good Luck (1999, Asian Man Records)
  • The Gipsy Hill (2002, Household Name Records)
  • Porch Life (2003, Fork In Hand Records)
  • How It Goes (2004, Springman Records)
  • Strictly Rude (2007, SideOneDummy Records)
  • Fluent in Stroll (2009, SideOneDummy Records)
  • For the Damned, the Dumb & the Delirious (2011, SideOneDummy Records)
  • Stomp (2013, Strictly Rude Records)
  • Stroll (2013, Strictly Rude Records)
  • Strictly Covered (2019, Strictly Rude Records)
  • Do Your Art (2021, SideOneDummy Records)
  • The Good Ole American Saturday Night (2026, SideOneDummy Records)

EPs

  • Live EP (1998, Fork in Hand Records)
  • "Introduction"
  • "Fatman"
  • "Draw the Line"
  • "Hey"
  • "Tommy"
  • "51 Gardner"
  • The Gipsy Hill EP (2002, Fork in Hand Records)
  • Salem Girls (2005, Springman Records)
  • "Salem Girls"
  • "She's Lovely"
  • "Oo Ie Yah"
  • "Baby Don't Cry"
  • "Salem Girls" [Dub Remix] Hidden Track
  • "She's Lovely" [Stripped Down] Hidden Track
  • "Salem Girls" [Instrumental] Hidden Track
  • "(Untitled)" Hidden Track
  • Noise Complaint EP (2007, SideOneDummy Records) iTunes Only Exclusive
  • "Noise Complaint"
  • "Shining On"
  • "Halfway Home"
  • Wicked Hardcore Christmas (2009, Springman Records)
  • "Wicked Hardcore Christmas"
  • "Wicked Hip-Hop Christmas"
  • "Wicked House Christmas"
  • "Wicked Hallicinogenic Christmas"
  • "Wicked Hip-Hop Christmas" [clean version]
  • 2 Songs 1 Download (2010, SideOneDummy Records)
  • "Lash Out" (1:29)
  • "Not Our Fault" (1:44)

Splits

  • Split 7" with Lounge (1997, Montalban Hotel)
  • Shot By Lammi (Split with Drexel) (1997, Fork in Hand Records)
  • Look What You've Done (Split with Five Knuckle) (2003, Household Name Records)
  • Split 7" with Melt Banana (2003, Fork in Hand Records)
  • Beijing to Boston (Split with Brain Failure) (2007, Bad News Records)
  • Ska is Dead 7" Club (Split with Brunt of It) (2012, Asbestos Records)
  • Oi DJ (Split with Doped Up Dollies) (2015, Strictly Rude Records)

Music videos

  • "Jeremy" (1997)
  • "The Difference" (2002)
  • "L.A. X" (2004)
  • "My Girlfriend's on Drugs" (2004)
  • "Little Bitch" (2005)
  • "Noise Complaint" (2007)
  • "Shining On" (2007)
  • "Have Yourself a Wicked Hardcore Christmas" (2007)
  • "Fluent in Stroll" (2009)
  • 'We Can Live Anywhere" (2010)
  • "It's Raining Zombies on Wall St." (2011)
  • "Flashlight" (2012)
  • "One Day" (2012)
  • "Too Much" (2021)

Compilation albums

  • Built Up From Nothing: The D-Sides and Strictly Dub (2012, SideOneDummy Records)

Remix albums

  • Strictly Mixed and Mashed (remix album with dj BC) (2008, Fork in Hand Records)
  • Rude Remix Revolution (remix album with various artists) (2009, Silver Sprocket)

Compilation appearances

  • The Best Bands You'll Ever Hate (1996, Asbestos Records)
  • Skarmageddon 3 (1997, Moon Ska Records)
  • Mailorder is Still Fun!! (1999, Asian Man Records)
  • Culture Shock Punk Rock (2000, Tomato Head)
  • Club Zed (2001, Headcore Records)
  • Music That Won't Swallow (2001, SuperToad Records)
  • A Far Away Place (2002, Robot Racket Records)
  • The Giant Rock 'N' Roll Swindle (2002, Fork in Hand Records)
  • Punk Ass Generosity Vol. 2 (2003, Devil Doll)
  • The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show (2003, Springman Records)
  • State of the Union Volume 2 (2003, Union Label Group)
  • Danger Zone Records Presents: A Call for the Underground (2004, Danger Zone Records)
  • 2005 Warped Tour Compilation (2005, SideOneDummy Records)
  • Pucknation Dot Com: The Album II (2006, Little Heart Records)
  • Shine Some Light: A Benefit for Dan Lang-Gunn (2006, Asbestos Records)
  • Ska is Dead (2007, Asian Man Records)
  • Plea For Peace Vol. 2 (2007, Asian Man Records)
  • 2007 Warped Tour Compilation (2007, SideOneDummy Records)
  • 2009 Warped Tour Compilation (2009, SideOneDummy Records)
  • This Is New England: A 100% Benefit Comp (2013, Punk Rock Pravda)

References

  • Big D and The Kids Table Interview on NotableInterviews.com